Monday, October 13, 2014

Design Wall Monday

Remember last week when this...



became this?



Well, now it's this.


I added the borders last night and even though I was not thrilled about the gradation not working out perfectly, I'm over that now. I was going to stop after the colored fabric border and bind in black, but on a whim I put up a small black border and really liked it. They are on and I love how it looks.

I'll piece the backing using the left over fabrics and then make some decisions on how I'm going to quilt this. Overall, I'm pretty happy how this is turning out, even if it is a square quilt. :-)

Last week I also showed half of the John Deere log cabin quilt. I have all the blocks put together in rows and just need to add the borders. I did not have a chance to take a picture of that, but will do so after the borders are attached.

There is something else on the wall. 

I'm playing around with making hexagons using the 60 degree triangle ruler by Creative Grids. So far I like this version better than the next one.


I like the pinwheel effect, but maybe not just with these fabrics.


On Tuesday, I'm giving a presentation about using this 60 degree triangle ruler to an area guild. Many of them have purchased the ruler and not used it because they weren't sure how. Others have used it for one project (table runner) and that's it.


One of the members knew that I had offered a series of table runner classes using the ruler as well as a quilt class. She also knew that I've been playing around hoping to come up with at least one more quilt to make using this same ruler. (I try to have multiple projects and classes for specialty rulers so students don't feel like they've wasted money.) My intention is that once I finish at least one of the hexagon quilts above, I will offer that as a class. 

Here are some picture of the table runners. These runners were a real hit this summer. I offered a different runner every two weeks and every single class was full. :-)

The vegetable runner was made using the Easy Striped Table Runner pattern while the other ones were made using various Triangle Frenzy patterns. These were fun and they make great gifts!





Here are two quilts I've made using this ruler.

This first one was made using a fat quarter bundle (Thanks Alice!) and an alternating solid white fabric. Simple but intriguing is what I think about this quilt.


This next quilt is my purple version of Equal Rights by Swirly Girls Designs.


I know I'll have fun at the presentation and sure hope I can encourage some of the members to use those rulers they bought way back when.

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

Monday, October 6, 2014

Design Wall Monday

There are a couple of projects on my design wall today. They have been there for a couple of days and will remain there, exactly like this for a couple more. Who knows, they may be there all week!

These are half of the Granny Square blocks that I made using the strip piecing method. (The other eight have not been trimmed yet.) I will be adding black sashing between the blocks and adding some borders. I still have to play and decide how I want to do it.


All of these blocks, and the other eight came from this fabric. It is Rain, by Michael Miller. Isn't it beautiful?!? 


I cut strips of each of the colors and combined them with black to create the blocks. I have pieces of fabric left over that shows the gradation from color to color and I want to figure out a way to use them in at least one of the borders. 


Here's another project on the wall.


I was asked to make a queen size John Deere themed quilt and I sketched six options for the recipient. There were a couple of log cabin options, two star versions, a churn dash option and a scrappy version. To be honest, I was glad he chose this log cabin version. 

There are a lot of different John Deere fabrics out there, but many of them we simply not conducive to making this quilt. Since this is for an adult, I didn't want the quilt to scream John Deere by having the focus be the tractors. Instead, I found some fabric and fussy cut centers of the log cabin blocks. Here are the centers before they are all trimmed. Only the second one from the top left is trimmed.   


Since I have placed the centers in specific places, I took this picture so I could use it as a reference during construction. It has come in handy a couple of time already!

There is one more project that is being worked on during the construction of these two quilts but I don't have any pictures of it. it's being constructed from the Rain fabric also. 

And yesterday I worked on this umbrella. I still have to add the snap because I forgot to do it before waterproofing it. UHHHH!!


There's an awful lot on my plate this week so you may see these same things on my wall next week.

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.
Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

Sunday, October 5, 2014

It's Raining...Umbrellas!

WARNING: 
This post is picture heavy!


This is the umbrellas that started it all. Pat made all of the sisters umbrellas for Christmas. (I can't find my picture taken at that time, darn it!)



And then this happened in June at the annual Sisters' Weekend. 



All of us made an umbrella or two. The picture above includes most of the umbrellas made in one day. I don't have a close up of the Ohio State umbrella Kathie made, but it is adorable!

Ann's floral umbrella is beautiful!


Barb's looks like it's a hand-painted masterpiece!


And Paula's is just plain fun!


The "Cleveland Family" was surprised when they received their umbrellas. That was a fun day and I look forward to doing it again next year.


Of course there was the 

Here's my umbrella using Riley Blake Designs' orange Gingham. I added a touch of black trim and think that made this umbrella a real beauty. 



Of course having Quinn as my model makes me love this umbrella even more.


And then the classes began...

The batiks are beautiful.


But so are the prints.



This is just so darn cute!


I love the polka dots in the alternating panels. 


Gingham and a fun print! What a great combination. 


Love the dots!



And more batiks that are so striking!


These blues are beautiful!


This umbrella was made using home dec fabrics and they worked great.


A solid batik umbrella that is just wonderful!



A mixture of batiks and Kona solid that looks awesome!


And it's even pretty rolled up.



I just sprayed another one, but it's hanging up to dry. Perhaps I'll remember to post a picture tomorrow.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Bras for a Cause

Every year for the past five years, I have been involved in organizing our local 


Although it's a lot of work, it is so worth it and it helps so many people!

Girls' night out.
bras2010

Even though many of you do not live any where near me (north central Ohio), you are welcome to send in an entry or two and earn a chance to win. 

The VIP Winner will receive $500, while the next two winners will receive $200 and $100 respectively. 

You do not need to be present to win and we will send you a check.

Do you have any idea how much fabric you could buy with $500?!?

If you would like to see some of the previous years' entries, click HERE
They are quite fun.

Rush Hour Giveaway Winner!

The rush hour blog hop is over, but we still have a winner to announce.

Congratulations Susan! 

Susan said...
Your quilt is lovely and dh's help was quite good. It turned out so lovely and stress free (at least it sounded like it) Thanks for your inspiring projects. When I am struggling with a project I do as you did and ask for dh's opinion and at times just walk away for a bit to refresh my take on what I am trying to accomplish. Blessings


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

I've had some unexpected sewing time and I'll post pictures of the soon, but I'm headed off to teach a class. Jack just reminded me that I get to see this little beauty tomorrow! 



Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Rush Hour - Day 6

It's coming to a close!
It's Day 6, the last day of the 
Rush Hour Blog Hop


Today's participants:

Tuesday, September 30



This blog hop has been a lot of fun! I've enjoyed every bit of taking a peek at the wonderful creations by so many truly creative people. 
Thank you all!